From January to June 2020, bottled water imports in Central America totaled $12 million, and purchases from companies in Mexico increased 86% compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
The Social Assistance Plan of the Presidency tenders the supply of different types of raw food to be used in the institution's canteen, for a 12-month term.
In Guatemala, the Embotelladora Los Volcanes, which produces and distributes Coca-Cola brand beverages, is executing expansion works at its industrial plant located in the department of Retalhuleu, a project that required an investment of $60 million and is expected to be completed in April 2021.
The project began in March 2019; however, due to the covid-19 outbreak, work was suspended and it was only in the second half of 2020 that work was reactivated.
As a result of the restrictions on mobility and the ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages, which were decreed in 2020 to mitigate the outbreak of covid-19, it is estimated that the smuggling of liquor from Mexico into the Guatemalan market increased considerably.
According to the report Prohibitions, illicit alcohol and lessons to be learned from the covid-19 lockdown, prepared by the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (Tracit), the dry law imposed for long periods boosted sales of smuggled alcoholic beverages.
From January to June 2020, regional beer imports totaled $83 million, 24% less than what was reported for the same period in 2019, with Guatemala and Panama being the markets that registered the most significant drops.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In recent years’ Spanish wines have gained importance according to the amount purchased, since in the first half of 2012 they represented 10% of total regional imports and for the same period in 2020 the proportion rose to 23%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
The industrial complex that began operating in October 2020 in the municipality of Villa Nueva, department of Guatemala, has an area of 43,500 square meters, an installed capacity of 12,000 pallets and required an investment of approximately $27 million.
The new logistics center has 29 dispatch doors and a system of product selection through automated voice command, informed the company dedicated to the commercialization of carbonated beverages and snacks.
In the last few weeks in Central American countries, the volume of searches and conversations on the Internet associated with wine began to decrease, a trend that continued in early November.
Through a system that monitors in real time the changes in the interests and preferences of consumers in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets that operate in the region.
From January to July 2020, Central American companies imported malt beer from Mexico for $35 million, 33% less than in the same period in 2019, a drop reported in the context of the economic crisis generated by the outbreak of covid-19.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Under the brand name of Topo Chico, Coca-Cola began to commercialize in the Costa Rican market a carbonated drink with alcohol, which belongs to the category known as "hard seltzer" or "spiked seltzer."
For now, the drink will be imported from Mexico, but Coca-Cola does not rule out producing it locally in the future.
In Costa Rica, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer will compete directly with "Adam & Eve", a product of the same category that is marketed since 2019 by Florida Ice, Farm & Co (Fifco).
At the beginning of the pandemic, interest in alcoholic beverages decreased in all markets in the region, but in recent months the number of Internet searches and digital interactions associated with the topic began to increase in all countries.
Through a system that monitors in real time the changes in the interests and preferences of consumers in the countries of Central America, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different food, beverages, products, services, sectors and markets that operate in the region.
After being closed for more than seven months, starting October 8, about 4,500 establishments that are identified as bars or casinos in the country will be able to reopen to the public.
The bars that reopen will only be able to serve 50% of their capacity and the distance between the backs of the chairs at each table must be at least 1.8 meters.
From January to March 2020, bottled water imports in Central America totaled $7 million, and purchases from companies in Italy increased 38% with respect to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graph"]
With no details regarding the amount of the transaction, Coca-Cola FEMSA announced the sale of 100% of its stock interest in the Panamanian dairy company Estrella Azul to Panama Dairy Ventures, Ltd.
The transfer of the shares became known after Coca-Cola sent a communication to the Mexican Stock Exchange, a document that specified some of the details of the transaction.
A bill is being considered in Costa Rica that proposes to identify each container of this type of beverage with a device, label or sticker in order to prevent smuggling, a measure that, according to business people, would not be effective.
Operating Company dedicated to the manufacture of gluten-free and sugar-free products, OHNE brand. The OHNE brand has 8 product lines: square bread, sweet...